[waynef]

...so there I was looking through my gallery of official BMW and MINI pictures, when I came across these beauties.









So that'll be a retro-fittable front, rear and blind-spot camera displays for the MINI then! Madness!

So don't ever say that I don't do things for all my (ex-)MINI friends!

See more secret photos like this at http://www.home-time.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/pages/bmwmini.htm
I found these pictures on page 163.

Enjoy.

[waynef]

So nobody cares that they can soon get front, rear and side blind-spot camera's on their MINI?

That is a suprise!

[ScottyB]

wow, cool stuff Wayne!

[Paul]

Quote:

Clear visibility all the way.

The wide range of Original MINI Accessories also comprises a great number of attractive features for retrofitting.

Whenever the MINI is fitted with an on-board monitor, for example, it may be further upgraded by the addition of a front-end and back-up camera, particularly the wide-angle back-up camera integrated in the luggage compartment lid serving to avoid expensive bumps when parking. Enlarging the driver's angle of vision to 131°, this colour camera automatically projects its image to the monitor once the driver shifts to reverse.

Also retrofittable, the front-end camera is able, as it were, to "look round the corner", serving for example to reveal a driveway or gate otherwise not in sight. Incorporating a prism, the lens covers a range of 900 on each side, thus clearly presenting the flow of traffic from left and right on the on-board monitor.

The colour camera thus enables the driver to turn safely at a road junction or round a sharp, abrupt corner. Being fitted discreetly beneath the front numberplate, the camera itself switches on and off at the touch of a button.

Through their special structure and surface, the two lenses are able to clean themselves in the interest of optimum clarity.

[mlebeau]

That's awesome, I knew it was possible as the TV tuner kit for the nav screen (same part as for BMW) has an input for it.. awesome to see they'll be providing an OEM solution, I may just pick one up, I really like the blind-spot cameras. Any news on when it will be available?

-mike

[Smurfn]

Very cool

[Windshadow]

I just do not see how this lens in this very dirty spot (we all know what the hatch looks like after a bit of wet weather driving) can stay clean with no mechanical wiper or spray also is this just for 05s? or can my 04 have them too... and of coursr How much

[waynef]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

Thanks for the support Paul. Where/when did you get this press release detail then?

I'll keep looking through my galleries too!

You lucky, lucky MINI people!

[irmiger]

This is really cool, so please don't hate me when I ask...why? Mini's are around 12feet long without much of a blind spot. Maybe I'm naive, but is there a reason (other than it's neat to have) why we would need this?

Just curious...

[wow]

I want it when i order my Convertible. Is it called the visibility pack?

[waynef]

Quote: Originally Posted by wow

I want it when i order my Convertible. Is it called the visibility pack?

NO!!!

Certainly isn't in the UK. No details yet. IIRC VP encompasses things like auto-dimming rear view mirrors, and it's been around for years.

See ya.

[waynef]

Quote: Originally Posted by irmiger

This is really cool, so please don't hate me when I ask...why? Mini's are around 12feet long without much of a blind spot. Maybe I'm naive, but is there a reason (other than it's neat to have) why we would need this?

Just curious...

Does there need to be a reason? They must figure that to have a killer option on their books like this would slay all and any newcomer. No one would come close. It's a gadget fans car par excellence.

I'd have one! ... oh, no I wouldn't. I've had two already!

[colorblind]

it´s cool... but only as long as you don´t know the prices:

1300,- € for the front, 1000,- € for the rearcamera



that´s toooooooo much for a gadget.

[waynef]

Quote: Originally Posted by colorblind

it´s cool... but only as long as you don´t know the prices:

1300,- € for the front, 1000,- € for the rearcamera



that´s toooooooo much for a gadget.

Holy Mackerel! That's about as much as they dare charge I guess. Unreal, but someone will buy it!

[jwardell]

VERY cool! I could certainly use that front left-right looking camera every time I am trying to turn onto a road and an SUV is turning the other way and completely blocking my site of oncoming traffic!

[Windshadow]

Quote: Originally Posted by colorblind

it´s cool... but only as long as you don´t know the prices:

1300,- € for the front, 1000,- € for the rearcamera



that´s toooooooo much for a gadget.

and How! AT $500 OR %600 I MIGHT BE INTERESTED just on the fun gadget front... but not at more than double that..... well lets see if anyone like Mikie the Mini or Ian reverse engineers the thing and makes it at a reasonable price... tiny cameras are quite cheap these days
if the front one was having a front IR camera like the GM system that might make it worthwhile but the split thing is a very specialized item for very specific problems... and the MINI bonnet is not what I would call long...

the idea of being able to save the last few min of video to a hard drive is a good one too in this day and age we never know when evidence might come in handy... the feed could go to a mini Tivo sort of gadget with a small hard disk...

Cheers
~E

[waynef]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

Hi Paul.

Did you ever get to put that news item together? Could you cross-reference it here please?
Ta very muchly.

(PS: I like Stoney Stratford. Been going there years. Totally and Bull if you ask me )

[jwardell]

The interesting thing to me is the left/right-looking front prism. I wonder if we can get one of those from some place and fit it to a camera of our own.

And it seems they have an OEM method of displaying video on the nav system, so of course there are huge possibilities if we can get a hold of that part.

I noticed the story posted on two of my websites engadget and autoblog, and both got it wrong and are scratching their heads as to why MINI needs a blind spot camera like a Truck would have, I could only post to explain what it really does.

[usaminicooper]

I would assume this will only be used if you have the Navigation option installed.
$$$

[Paul]

Never got the entire article done, should be online soo, I've not been online due to being a bit poorly.